Why does Crunchyroll work on some shows but not others?

Licensing is negotiated per show and per territory. The shows that work are licensed in the country your VPN server is in. The ones that are blocked aren't licensed there. Try switching to a server in a different country, starting with the US since it has the broadest library.

Will Crunchyroll ban my account for using a VPN?

Crunchyroll's terms of service prohibit circumventing geo-restrictions. In practice, Crunchyroll's enforcement tends to be at the content level rather than the account level: it blocks the stream rather than banning the account. That said, using a VPN is against the terms, so it's worth knowing that risk exists.

Why does Crunchyroll work in a browser but not the app, or the other way round?

The app and browser can handle VPN detection differently. If one is blocked, it's often because that method is exposing your real IP while the other isn't. Switch between the two and see which one gets through.

Which VPN works best with Crunchyroll?

NordVPN and ExpressVPN are both reliable for Crunchyroll. The most useful feature is a large US server pool, so you have plenty of alternatives if individual servers get blocked.

Do I need a premium Crunchyroll account to use a VPN?

No, a VPN works with free accounts too. However, the free tier has stricter geo-restrictions than premium, so some content that's available to premium subscribers in a given country may still be blocked for free users, even with a working VPN. If you're hitting walls that a server switch doesn't fix, a premium account removes that extra layer.

Can I watch simulcasts from Japan on Crunchyroll with a VPN?

Yes, connecting to a Japan server gives you access to the Japanese version of Crunchyroll's catalogue, which includes some titles not on the international version. This is worth trying for shows that are blocked in the US, UK, and most other regions.

Why Crunchyroll Blocks VPNs (and How to Get Around It)

Getting a "not available in your region" error on Crunchyroll with your VPN already running is frustrating, and the fix is a bit different from most streaming services. Crunchyroll licences anime title by title, country by country, so connecting to just any server isn't always enough. Sometimes you need the right country for that specific show.

What the error usually looks like

When Crunchyroll blocks you, it's usually one of two messages: "Sorry, this video is not available in your current location" or a notice that the title isn't available for your region. Sometimes the show appears in search results but the video player refuses to play it.

Occasionally Crunchyroll detects the VPN connection itself and shows an error about an unsupported connection. Less common, but the fix is the same: switch to a different server.

Why Crunchyroll's regional restrictions are different

Crunchyroll is one of the world's biggest anime streaming platforms, but anime licensing is negotiated territory by territory. A studio in Japan agrees separate distribution deals for each country, so one show might be on Crunchyroll for UK audiences and a different service entirely for US viewers. Simulcasts, which are episodes released at the same time as Japan, are the most watched content on Crunchyroll, and even those aren't always available in every market.

So Crunchyroll's library varies quite a bit by country. Some simulcasts are available everywhere. Others are licensed only for specific regions. If you're trying to watch something that isn't licensed in the country your VPN server is in, the fix is switching to a server where it is licensed, not just switching to any other server.

Crunchyroll geo-restriction error message — Crunchyroll's anime library is licensed territory by territory. The fix is connecting to the region that holds the licence for the show you want, not just any available server.

Finding the right server country

The US Crunchyroll library is the broadest and covers most simulcasts, so a US server is the right starting point. If a specific title is still blocked, it may be licensed for another territory.

Japan is worth trying for titles that are blocked everywhere else. Some shows are only available on the Japanese version of Crunchyroll rather than the international version. A Japan server may give you access to that separate catalogue.

The UK and Australia sometimes hold exclusive simulcast rights for certain shows, so these are worth trying if the US and Japan don't work.

If you're not sure which region has the rights to a specific show, searching for the title alongside "Crunchyroll region" usually turns up an answer from fan communities who track this.

Step-by-step fix

Connect to a US server. In NordVPN, use the search bar or tap United States on the map. In ExpressVPN, tap Choose Location and select United States. Check your IP at our IP checker to confirm you have a US address before loading Crunchyroll.
Open Crunchyroll in a private or incognito window. Cookies from a previous session without the VPN active can reveal your real location even after your IP has changed. Starting in a private window avoids this.
Try to play the title. If it works, you're done. If you get a region error, the show isn't licensed for the US, so move to step 4.
Try a UK server, then Japan, then Australia. Some simulcasts are licensed exclusively for these regions. Japan in particular has a separate catalogue with titles not on the international version of Crunchyroll.
If Crunchyroll is blocking the VPN connection itself rather than the content, switch to a different server in the same country. Crunchyroll identifies and blocks known VPN IP addresses, and this list changes over time. A different server in the same country will often have an address that isn't flagged yet. Our guide to switching VPN servers covers the steps for every major app.

Free account vs premium account

Crunchyroll's free tier has stricter regional limitations than the premium tier. Some content is available to premium subscribers in more countries but restricted to specific regions for free users. If you're on a free account and hitting blocks even with a working VPN, upgrading to Crunchyroll Premium can lift that extra layer of restriction.

The app vs the browser

Crunchyroll in a browser can sometimes expose your real location through WebRTC, a browser feature that may reveal your device's IP address even when your connection is going through a VPN. The Crunchyroll app doesn't rely on WebRTC in the same way, which can make it harder for Crunchyroll to detect your real location.

If you're using Chrome or Firefox and hitting blocks, try the Crunchyroll app on your phone or tablet with your VPN running at the system level (the full VPN app, not a browser extension). The Crunchyroll app is available on iOS, Android, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV.